PEKAN: The Housing and Local Government Ministry will work together with the Pahang government to assist Lynas Malaysia Sdn Bhd (Lynas) to build a permanent deposit facility (PDF) for Water Leach Purification (WLP) residue.
Its minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said the state government will help Lynas identify a suitable site for the PDF. When that is done, the ministry with assistance from the local government will scrutinise all standard operating procedures (SOP) prior to its construction.
"The state government will identify and propose specific land for Lynas to construct the PDF before the ministry takes over. The ministry will look into requirements, including whether the land earmarked is within a suitable distance from housing settlements and the population. Other SOPs will be looked into before consent is given.
"The local government will cooperate and ensure that the construction of the PDF adheres to SOP. Once land related matters are resolved in the next six months, then the other processes can take place," she told reporters during a working visit to Pekan here today.
Yesterday, the Atomic Energy Licensing Board (AELB) said that Lynas’ operation permit has been renewed for another six months and the plant must comply with three conditions imposed on them.
One of the conditions requires Lynas to identify a specific location to build a PDF and also obtain written permission from the state government involved in order to use the location.
When asked if she agrees that Lynas should not be closed, Zuraida replied that the matter had been the Cabinet's collective decision.
"As a cabinet member, I have to adhere to the decision. It is a Cabinet decision which we have discussed and agreed upon, so we are moving forward," she said.
When asked about a possibility of residents opposing the proposal to build the PDF near their area, Zuraida said it was the responsibility of the state government to handle such issues.
On the possibility that the PDF will be built outside the state, she said in jest: "When you are born in Pahang, then you (usually would) live in Pahang," she said referring to Lynas plant in Gebeng, Kuantan.
Recently, several media quoted a source which said that about five abandoned gold and tin mines in Pahang were identified for the PDF sites. The news report said that the locations were in Lepar, Luit, Padang Tengku, Bukit Ibam and Chini, and studies were being carried out by the relevant parties.
However, Pahang Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Wan Rosdy Wan Ismail had said on Aug 13 that the state government had never met Lynas representatives to discuss potential PDF sites.